Yakima City Council focused on land use at its Tuesday meeting, approving a zoning change near Camp Hope, another phase of construction on North 92nd Avenue and an alteration to its appeals process for land-use rulings.
Council members also scheduled future discussions on the budget, affordable housing sales tax and speed bumps.
Quick hits
* The council approved a subdivision on North 92nd Avenue, allowing 22 single-family residential lots in a Columbia Ridge Homes' development in a 7-0 vote. Several residents further north on 92nd Avenue raised concerns about the planning process after advocating against the closure of part of the street. That closure was rescinded by Columbia Ridge Homes.
* A plot of land was rezoned for general commercial use on Birch Street, near Camp Hope. That rezoning allows the land to be used for a Comprehensive Healthcare mental health clinic for homeless residents at Camp Hope.
James Carmody, who represents a nearby truck dealer, RWC, asked that the business be included in plans for development on the site. The council passed the rezone 7-0.
* Council members approved a change in the land-use appeals process. In land use decisions where a determination was made by a hearing examiner, appeals will now go straight to a city judge instead of stopping in front of the council. The change could reduce wait times by 100 days and reduce filing fees for appellants.
* City council accepted around $23,000 in grant funding for three grapplers - a set of strong ropes that can be launched from police vehicles during a pursuit to stop a wheel on a car.
* Small Business Saturday was proclaimed for Nov. 30 and city council members encouraged community members to visit local businesses.
Future meetings outlined
Yakima City Council members will take another step in tackling impending budget shortfalls next week in a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Yakima Convention Center.
In the next two years, city expenditures are projected to shoot past revenue by millions of dollars. The city's general fund reserves could be close to empty by the end of 2026.
Several solutions have been proposed by city staff, including a levy lid lift for the city. Council members will discuss those at the special meeting.
Council member Matt Brown also asked to discuss affordable housing sales tax dollars at a future meeting. The tax Brown referred to is allowed by Substitute House Bill 1406, which was passed in 2019 and allows cities or counties to set aside money from local sales tax for creating new affordable housing, operating current affordable housing or providing rental assistance.
Brown wants to discuss "what we're currently using it for and what we could use it for," he said.
Council member Danny Herrera added a study session on speed bumps in the city to the council's agenda in 2025.